Looking for fun, free and memorable things to do with the family this Easter midterm? The National Museum of Ireland has just launched an exciting programme of hands-on workshops, drop-in sessions, tours and self-guided trails for all ages to enjoy.
From learning to think like an archaeologist at Kildare Street, to exploring fascinating specimens at the Dead Zoo Lab, and enjoying nature‑themed craft workshops at Turlough Park, there is something to explore and discover across our museum sites in Dublin and Co Mayo.
Our opening hours are from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday, and 1pm to 5pm on Sundays and Mondays with the exception of Good Friday (closed). We are open Easter Monday from 1pm to 5pm.
Admission is free.
Easter Midterm Holiday Events at Turlough Park
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Celebrate Easter at Turlough Park with a fun, nature‑filled family day out at the National Museum of Ireland! Explore the scenic woodland trails, pick up a free activity sheet to guide your adventures, and meet Beir Bua, the impressive brown bear on display in association with The Murmur of Bees exhibition. Enjoy hands‑on Easter‑season craft workshops and discover colourful artwork in the Courtyard Gallery, all while making the most of the beautiful grounds and nearby greenway. When you’re ready for a break, treat yourself to something sweet and tasty at Synge & Byrne in the museum’s courtyard café—the perfect way to round off an Easter visit to Turlough Park.
Tuesday 31 March & Wednesday 1 April | 10:00, 11:00 & 12:00 | Families | Booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Get creative this Easter at the National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park, with a hands‑on art workshop inspired by seasonal traditions! Join museum educators to learn about old Easter customs before making your own festive decoration or card in a fun, family‑friendly setting.
Wednesday & Thursday, 8 & 9 April 2026 | 10:30 - 11:30 | Adults and Children | Booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Discover the wonders of nature this Easter at the Eco‑Craft Workshop at the National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park. Join museum educator Fiona Deacy for a hands‑on, family‑friendly session that begins with a guided nature walk through the grounds of Turlough Park before gathering natural materials to use in creative, eco‑friendly crafts.
Easter Midterm Holiday Events at Kildare Street
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Celebrate the Easter break with a fun and fascinating visit to the National Museum of Ireland at Kildare Street! Throughout the midterm, families can enjoy a variety of free guided tours, including Highlights of the National Museum of Ireland, Prehistoric Ireland, The Vikings in Ireland, and Saints and Scholars of Ireland. Alongside hands‑on activities and replica handling sessions, these tours offer the perfect way to dive into Ireland’s ancient past and explore the Museum’s most iconic treasures. Whether you're sparking curiosity in young explorers or planning an engaging family day out, there’s something for everyone this Easter.
Wednesday 1 April | 12:00 - 14:00 | Families | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Drop into the Learning Resource Room to meet our Museum Educators and explore a range of replica Stone Age artefacts you can pick up and examine. Discover items like our Mesolithic fishtrap, flint scrapers, arrowheads, and prehistoric clay pots. Enjoy some relaxing colouring activities, browse our archaeology books, and don’t forget to explore the Museum galleries afterwards.
Thursday 2 April | 10:30 - 12:30 | Families | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
To mark World Autism Day, take part in our quite access Megalithic Big Draw drop-in workshop. Learn about the different designs, patterns and shapes that people in Stone Age Ireland used to decorate megalithic tombs, just like Newgrange. Create your own cave hand print to take home with you.
Wednesday 8 April |10:30 - 12:30 | Families | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Meet with Museum educators in the Ór - Ireland's Gold exhibition to see and handle a collection of replica artefacts from Bronze Age Ireland, and discover what objects people were making and using at this time. See an Early Bronze Age axehead, a bronze spearhead, amber beads, and clay pots.
Thursday 9 April | 14:00 - 16:00 | Families | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Come to the Learning Resource Room and learn how to think like an archaeologist! Try to solve the puzzle of some mystery replica Bronze Age objects during this drop-in session and see if you can figure out what each of them were used for.
Easter Midterm Holiday Events at Collins Barracks
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This Easter, the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks invites visitors of all ages to “hop into history” with events running from 2–12 April 2026. Families can enjoy a free, self-guided Easter Trail filled with riddles, artefact hunts, and engaging challenges designed to bring the museum’s collections to life. Across the bank holiday weekend, a variety of public tours will explore themes such as the 1916 Easter Rising, Revolutionary Women, Ireland’s national symbols, and the history of food and drink. Tours are free and allocated on a first‑come, first‑served basis, making the event an accessible and fun way to learn, explore, and spend time together during the holiday.
Thursday, 2 April - Sunday, 12 April | Families | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Solve our riddles, find the artefacts and learn about the eggs-cellent Museum collections at Collins Barracks. This free, fun-filled self-guided family challenge is packed with brain teasers designed to keep you guessing.
Thursday, 2 April - Sunday, 12 April | Adults & Families | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
This Easter, Collins Barracks will host a series of free public tours commemorating the 1916 Easter Rising, taking place from 5–6 April 2026. Visitors can explore key themes such as the Decade of Conflict (1913–1923), Revolutionary Women, Ireland’s national symbols, and the history of food and drink. Tours run at 14:00 and 15:30, and are offered on a first‑come, first‑served basis, making them an engaging and accessible way to reflect on Ireland’s revolutionary past.
Easter Midterm Holiday Events at the Dead Zoo Lab, Collins Barracks
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Selected dates & times | 11:00 - 13:00 | Families 7+
The Dead Zoo Lab, National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7
Step into a world of wonder this Easter midterm with the Dead Zoo Lab’s hands‑on family drop‑in sessions at the National Museum of Ireland! Perfect for curious kids and grown‑ups alike, these fun, free activities invite families to explore fascinating specimens, discover hidden stories from the natural world, and get up close to the magic of museum conservation.
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